Chapter 177: Fabre in the Four Heavenly Houses “Well, that’s all I’ve heard up to this point. I didn’t catch where in Sichuan it was found; is that okay?” The General of Iron Castle wore a somewhat apologetic expression, seemingly feeling that the information provided was inadequate for the price of the Spirit Medicine. It was indeed lacking detailed information on where it lived, but even so, this much information was not nothing. If I had no Intel at all, that would be one thing, but the fact someone had seen it in person and that it had been found somewhere in Sichuan was already a significant gain. I had asked the same question to everyone who had helped me so far, but the only person who provided information about Spirit Venomous Creatures was the Princess. “Yes, elder. Thank you. Your words are really a great help to me.” “Is that enough? I sense it’s quite lacking for the price of a Spirit Medicine, though?” “No, it’s more than enough. In fact, it’s even overflowed, so it’s fine.” ‘From tomorrow, I should pester my father-in-law to ask for more information.’ I thought I should start gathering rumors about the Tiger Salamander among the fishermen and those who hunt giant salamanders starting tomorrow. If that wasn’t enough, I would ask the Beggar Emperor, who had been a constant source of help. I had heard through Geolhwang that he was the one who knew most about the Central Plains, and since I was still sending him plagues now, he would surely not refuse my request. As I settled on this plan and couldn’t help but smile, the General of Iron Castle let out a hearty laugh. “Haha, are you that pleased? I thought it was just trivial talk yet you seem so happy…” He had a confused expression as to why I was so delighted, but, of course, why wouldn’t I be? I might have three lizards, but the feeling surrounding a Lizard and a Salamander is completely different! Honestly, in Korean, “도마뱀” (daughter of a lizard) and “도롱뇽” (daughter of a salamander) sound plain, but in English, “Salamander” definitely has a more appealing vibe. Salamanders are depicted as elemental fire spirits and burning lizards in fantasy, giving off a totally different heroic aura. Plus, this fire lizard appearing in fantasies is based on a real creature. A type of amphibian belonging…

Chapter 176: Spicy Fabre at Four Heavenly Houses If a typical drinking party is filled with a lively and noisy atmosphere, then the vibe here, continuing from the pond, was an unusual calm. It wasn’t like we were in a funeral home, so why was this drinking party so quiet? It wasn’t because we were with important figures either. The reason for this solemn gathering was singular: a bottle of alcohol that had been tossed into the mix. “Alright, then I’ll drink first. Ho-Baek, I count on you.” “Well then, don’t worry and drink up. We’ll handle the Ho-Baek duties.” “Whenever someone performs Yungi Chosik, it’s only natural to have the Ho-Baek stand guard.” I thought that even if an elixir had been mixed in, this was still just liquor, so I would gulp it down, but would the martial artists truly waste even a drop of elixir? Even if just a small amount was mixed in, they were already using it to strengthen their inner energy. So, nobody clinked their glasses together. Instead, if one person drank, the other three stood guard in a bizarre scene. “Khuh. Not bad. A single cup contains months of inner strength. Delightful.” As the General of Iron Castle, who had just completed his Yungi Chosik, opened his eyes and said this happily, the remaining three beamed with joy. “Ooh, does it really last for months?” “Yeah, it’s definitely a mid-grade elixir. It’s rich. Very rich.” “I’m glad to hear you’re satisfied.” “This place has a marvelous son-in-law. To have earned the title of Jinbo Bongwang! I’ve never heard of such a thing!” “Ahahaha. My son-in-law is indeed something special.” Seeing the guests elated, the artisan beamed as well. With praise for his son-in-law, my chest swelled with pride. As the General of Iron Castle led the way, one by one, it was finally the artisan’s turn, and upon finishing the Yungi Chosik, the earlier calm atmosphere transformed into a lively chatter filled with delight. “By the way, we can’t just partake in something precious without recompensing it, can we? Isn’t that right, General Mang?” “The Lord of Sichuan is spot on. An elixir like this must be paid for. Eating for free brings misfortune.” “Indeed. It is a martial world unwritten rule that one must always pay for elixirs.” Listening to the guests, it seemed a universal law that when acquiring a living…

Chapter 175: The Guests Arrive “Whoosh… Vroom!” The buzzing sound of Golden Hair Bees flitting overhead continued non-stop. Those little guys had been cooped up in their hive yesterday, busy making wax for their rooms, but it seemed they were finally ready to fill it with honey starting today. Some were heading towards Tang Clan Mountain, while others were flitting around the large lotus blooming in the pond. “Whir… Swir…” “Oh, hey there, good work!” Spotting me as they flew by, a few of them swooped down to greet me from their perch at the pond pavilion. Waving back at them, they flapped their wings joyfully and headed off towards Tang Clan Mountain. Well, the sound of their buzzing wings was pretty standard, but for some reason, today it felt particularly lively—probably because they were thoroughly enjoying their new home. I had peeked in yesterday to check on the renovation progress, and they had gotten so excited to see me that they all came rushing over. It was a bit challenging turning down their offers for a ‘nutritional exchange.’ With the Separate Chamber at the fifth level being spacious and impressive, they seemed eager to express their gratitude. “Phew… dozens of wiggly tongues were really tiring.” Honestly, the place was incomparable to their old hive. No matter how grand a centuries-old tree may be, it couldn’t compete with a man-made building in terms of interior space. Besides, a decaying old tree certainly attracted all sorts of bugs. Furthermore, a log cabin wasn’t the best for ventilation, and it might leak when it rains, right? But the fifth-level separate chamber I prepared for them was a state-of-the-art building, evidently to their liking. With a roof to block direct sunlight and windows for ventilation if it got too hot, it suited their needs perfectly. Once they figured out how to use the windows, the clever Golden Hair Bees utilized it exceptionally well. “It seems they really like their new home. The buzzing of their wings sounds so cheerful…” “Of course. It’s an ‘fifth-level’ separate chamber, so it’s only natural they’d love it…” As I expressed my thoughts while watching the bees fly away, Hua Eun’s sharp voice chimed in beside me. In fact, my decision to allocate the fifth-level separate chamber as the new home for the Golden Hair Bees hadn’t warranted a notable reaction from Mandok God, my grandfather. All he…

Chapter 174: Buzzing Chaos “Buzz. Buzz. Wheeeee!” As I crawled out of the ancient tree with Langhu in tow, the worker bees of the Golden Hair Bee King, who were waiting inside and outside the hive, began to flutter their wings as if starting an engine. Probably, the ones starting to flap their wings now were the bees set to follow out for the split swarm. The hive splits (분봉) begin when the queen leaves the home, so it seemed my exit with Langhu had served as the signal for the split. ‘Is it about half?’ The ones looking ready to take off seemed to amount to roughly half of the total bees. The moment I took a step out towards the training area entrance, the bees finally kicked into gear and soared into the sky en masse. – Wheeeee. Whee. As the bees readied themselves outside and poured out from the entrance, a shadow loomed around me. Soon, the bees flew above and began to spiral around me, filling the sky. The buzzing of countless bees echoed in my ears, merging with the flurry of wings. – Buzz. Whee. ‘I need to move quickly.’ Having verified that all the following bees had taken off, I hurried out of the training area. It was vital to finish the split as soon as possible. Worker bees usually carry a decent amount of honey when they leave home, but if finding a new one takes too long, they’ll consume all the honey they’ve stored. Before they can make a new hive and fill it with honey, they must survive on the honey they took from their original home, so the shorter the search for a new abode, the better. However, barely past the training area, a few bees suddenly latched onto me. The swarm of spinning bees charged at me. – Buzz! Buzz! “Ah, no, guys, just a little longer…!” Of course, they weren’t attacking me. When the queen lands somewhere during a split, it’s a habit for the worker bees to settle there. Since Langhu was perched on my shoulder, it seemed they all decided to cling to me. One by one, I soon found myself surrounded by bees. I could barely manage to get my hands free amidst the swarm. In a bit of a panic, caught in the bee clump, I suddenly had a thought: Right now, this situation…

Chapter 173: Fabre in the Four Heavenly Houses Section 3 Parthenogenesis, also known as asexual reproduction or unitary reproduction, refers to the process where an embryo develops from an unfertilized ovum, meaning it can grow without the involvement of sperm. This implies that the female’s genes undergo division on their own to form a zygote, which means the queen bee of the Golden Hair Bee King, along with the worker bees and the new queen bee, all possess the same genetic makeup. In other words, the society of the Golden Hair Bee Kings consists of numerous identical twins produced through cloning, indicating that their relationships are those of daughters and sisters while simultaneously being themselves. It feels like there are hundreds of identical females, as both the queen bees and the worker bees are female. I was momentarily taken aback by the appearance of the identical queen bees, but I quickly composed myself and asked the queen bees of the Golden Hair Bee King. “So you can reproduce without any males?” – Bzzz. – Bzzz. As if synchronized, the two bees nodded their heads at the same time in midair. I hadn’t realized it until now, but upon further inspection, even the worker bees inside the hive were merely smaller versions of the queen bees, unable to lay eggs. ‘But how intriguing is a society of females without any drones.’ Although it was a somewhat unusual form, parthenogenesis itself isn’t too special. There are surprisingly many organisms in nature that engage in such reproduction. The white ants I had caught are a prime example of a species known for parthenogenesis, and it’s commonly found in animals like goldfish, certain lizards, scorpions, and even among various species of ants. However, a unique form like this, completely devoid of drones, was a first for me. That’s because a society with a single gene pool is bound to be susceptible to specific diseases or genetic disorders. Thus, the organisms I mentioned usually only resort to parthenogenesis in times of urgency and typically reproduce through standard means. From an evolutionary perspective, it’s essential to pass on a variety of genes to increase the chances of differentiation into diverse species in future generations. ‘Why reproduce through parthenogenesis?’ While I have no clue why the Golden Hair Bee King chooses to continue breeding through the vulnerable traits of parthenogenesis, it’s evident that despite being a lower…

Chapter 172: The Hive at the Four Heavenly Houses The Golden Hair Bee King’s house was a bit bustling, but I managed to bring Hwa-yang to a corner and set her down. Being a sensitive little creature, the Golden Hair Bee King dictated that I couldn’t visit their house with Hwa-yang in tow. I also needed to keep an eye on her. Given Hwa-yang’s insatiable appetite, I was worried that if left unchecked, she’d be trying to snack every meal at all hours. “Hwa-yang, you can’t sneak into the kitchen for a bite! If you do, others won’t get to eat. And eating that much every day isn’t good for you, you know!” – Biii! As I chastised her, Hwa-yang widened her blank eyes, sending me a message that this was the most ludicrous thing she had ever heard. She only seemed alert when food was mentioned, and I couldn’t help but respond in disbelief. “I’m not saying this because I don’t want to; I’m saying it out of concern! Eating that much could make you sick. If this keeps up, I’ll feed you every two days!” – Biiiii!? Biiiii… Hwa-yang’s surprise quickly turned into dejection at the thought of being fed every two days. I felt a bit sorry for her; however, I had my reasons for such sternness. Although she was a spirit creature, it’s known that toads, like Hwa-yang, don’t eat daily. Amphibians typically consume food every two days or so. This is due to their unique digestive processes, as they lack teeth and rely solely on their stomach and intestines for digestion. Even if they eat regular food, digestion can take an entire day, and larger meals naturally take even longer to process. So, it made me worried that if she persisted in eating every meal daily, something could go wrong. Of course, as a spirit, she might be fine, but from another perspective, it was clear that Hwa-yang was not an entity that needed to eat often. After all, fire is one of the hardest food sources to come by in nature, right? Generally speaking, a spirit like Hwa-yang would need to inhabit an area with naturally occurring wildfires or volcanic regions to consume the fire, but thinking about where she had been found, a volcanic area didn’t seem to suit her very well. Thus, she probably ate very rarely. “Just hold out a little…

Chapter 171: Fabre in the Four Heavenly Houses I was startled by Yo-hwa’s voice and quickly hid both hands behind my back. But Yo-hwa dashed over and grabbed my hidden hands, pulling them out in front of us. “W-What’s wrong, Yo-hwa?” I struggled, pretending not to know, but with her Ten Great Venoms, Yo-hwa was incredibly strong. There was no way I could overpower her! With a simple display of strength, she seized my hands and placed them between her pedipalps and Hua Eun’s. —Kissit! Fixing my hands in our line of sight, she wore a mischievous expression, as if to say, “Go on, try again.” It was the same look as catching a cheating boyfriend red-handed, and she was glaring right at me. ‘Damn it. Of all people, why did it have to be Yo-hwa…’ An unknown emotion welled up under her gaze. ‘Is this what it feels like to be caught cheating?’ I thought, squeezing my eyes shut in despair. After all, the fact that my nails were now tinted emerald green made it obvious that she was the last person I wanted to get caught by. If it had been Bin or Hyang, sure, there would be jealousy but also an opportunity to ease things over with some sweet talk. But Yo-hwa had a fixation on me that filled my arms with two red threads. It seemed that she liked me in a rather uncomfortable way. Since we were from different backgrounds, it was even more complicated. And given that she was borrowing the form of Hua Eun, it made handling the situation even trickier. That’s why I answered her pointedly, my expression serious as if I was about to tell her to try again. “Uh? W-What’s what? Are you sure you saw something wrong, Yo-hwa?” Her face turned incredulous as she let out a sharp cry. —Kissit!? Kiss!? Yo-hwa hadn’t connected with the Beast Heart Technique yet, so she couldn’t understand my words exactly, but judging by the rich expressions and actions of the pedipalps transformed into Hua Eun, I had a general sense of what she was trying to convey. It was all too familiar, resembling the expressions actresses use in dramas from my previous life when they pressured their boyfriends. ‘Why does it feel like some things never change, no matter how much the world does!’ “Yo-hwa, it’s not like that…” “Looks like our…

Chapter 170: Fabre in the Four Heavenly Houses “Did you call for Dad, Chao?” It hadn’t been long since I summoned Chao, but the Clan Head Hall door opened just a crack, and Chao’s sparkling antennae followed by his head peeked inside. He must’ve dropped everything and hurried over as soon as I called him in my mind. Well, there wasn’t much for Chao to do in the Tang Clan aside from sleeping and playing with the other critters. As I shifted my gaze from Chao’s extended antennae to his face, I caught sight of his shiny, venomous fangs. My heart raced at the sight. What else could it be when thinking of showing off couple claws with that little guy? “Chao, go greet Grandpa and I’ll be out soon. Just wait outside for a moment, okay?” – Chit. After asking Chao to wait a moment, I decided to finish up my conversation with Mandok God. No matter how much I wanted to brag about couple claws to Chao, I had to wrap up my discussion with an elder. After all, I was scheduled to check Mandok God’s prowess with the Centipede Poison Tooth Claw tomorrow morning. “Then we’ll prepare and check at dawn?” “Yes, I’ll have the warriors of my clan get things ready for morning, so let’s see its power then.” “Understood. Then Grandpa, may I take my leave?” “Uh, uh… yes…” “I’ll see you tomorrow morning!” As I cheerfully responded, Mandok God appeared flustered, seeing me off. After exchanging farewells and stepping outside, there was Chao waiting eagerly at the entrance of the Clan Head Hall. – Chit! “Oh, hey there, Chao!” I approached and petted him warmly, quickly changing my expression to scan the area and asked Chao, “Are you sure you came alone?” I couldn’t precisely recall what I excitedly told Chao, but I did remember the strict warning I gave him. The one thing I insisted Chao must do was to come alone. While it was great that we became couple claws, the moment it got out to the others, I worried about the kind of flack I’d receive from them. If Bin or Hyang found out and started whining about making nail colors similar to theirs, it could get really troublesome. I might end up with a jaundiced color for Hyang or have to bruise my nails for Bin! ‘It’s an entirely plausible…

Chapter 169: Fabre at the Four Heavenly Houses “Centipede Poison Tooth Claw, huh? Sounds fancy!” After a few months away from the Tang Clan, the grand Nine Entrance Gate of the Tang Clan finally came into view. From the First Gate to the Ninth Gate, the clan’s nine gates stretched out like a majestic line into the distance. Once I confirmed it, a warm thought flooded my mind that I was home. ‘Does this mean that I really feel like this is home now?’ Just then, beside me, I heard the voices of Geomryong and Gwonryong confirming the Nine Entrance Gate. “It’s been a really long time since we last visited the clan.” “Yeah, for sure! Geomryong.” “When was the last time you came to the Tang Clan, Geomryong, Gwonryong?” “Well, Guangryong…” It was the moment when Geomryong was about to explain when he last visited the clan. From the side, a sharp voice interrupted, slicing through the conversation. “Hmph? Guangryong? Did I hear that right? Hua Eun, did I mishear?” “No, sister, I think you heard it correctly. Why do we suddenly hear the nickname Guangryong again?” “Ugh! No, no! That was a slip of the tongue! I mean, Bi-ryong! A few years ago? When you were gone, I did a delivery or two…” As the conversation went on, Geomryong accidentally mentioned my forbidden nickname while looking past the Nine Entrance Gate. He looked as shocked as if he were caught gaming late at night by his mom. With Seol’s cough followed by sarcastic remarks and Hua Eun’s piercing gaze, things got awkward fast. There was a reason for this situation. After those two decided to tease me or possibly give me the nickname Guangryong anew. After occasionally calling me Guangryong and catching heat from Seol and Hua Eun, the name had been marked off-limits. Well, it wasn’t exactly adhered to until now. “G-Guangryong!? You’re calling my fiancé Guangryong? Seriously?” “Are you saying you would call my little sister that? To the eldest son of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace!?” The moment they mentioned Guangryong, chilling stares and cold voices erupted from them. “A-aaaa! Little Ones, calm down. W-well, this is that… We have a bond of intimacy with my little sister…” “If you feel that intimate twice, next time you’ll be calling her Mar-ryong or Se-ryong too, right?” “If you keep insulting my fiancé with that nickname, I’ll…

Fabre in the Four Heavenly Houses Episode 168 Centipede Poison Tooth Claw 1 – Slurp. Slurrrp. The sticky, cold sensation on my face jolted me awake. Next, I felt something slimy trickling down from my right eyebrow, rolling down my cheek to my chest. As I opened my eyes, the right side of my vision was blurry due to the sticky liquid. Instead, as I opened my left eye wider, a large pink thing was approaching my face. – Plop. Before I could fully gather my senses, the pink blob suddenly stuck to my face. Familiar cries and a new languid voice flooded my ears. – Peeei. “Food…?” ‘So this is Hwa-yang’s voice.’ True to form, Hwa-yang’s first request was for food. Hwa-yang must have woken up before me and was now eagerly licking my face, pleading for food. It was a touching first conversation connected through the Beast Heart Technique, but still, it was all about food. I couldn’t help but smile at Hwa-yang’s consistent love for food as I replied to her. I felt like my face might wear away from all the licking. “Got it! Just wait a second, you little rascal.” As I wiped away Hwa-yang’s drool dripping down my mouth, voices surrounded me. – Slurp! – Slurrr! – Slurp! – Kshhh! – Kkookku! – Kuu! “Wei So-ryong! Is it a success? How are you feeling? What about your inner power?” “Long, you’re awake!?” Chao, Bin, Yo-hwa, and even Hua Eun along with Older Sister Seol — their voices flooded in as I turned my head towards them. They must have been worried and were all gathered around me. “Yes, aside from feeling a bit sluggish, I’m okay. How many days have passed since then?” I responded to Hua Eun and Older Sister Seol’s questions as I quickly circulated my inner power to start internal observation. Since I had regained consciousness, I needed to check the second stage of the Five Poisons Return to Origin Divine Skill. Focusing on the flowing energy, I traced my way back to the Dantian. Inside the Dantian, two poisons were slowly rotating in the same direction. The two poisons were balanced, forming a shape that resembled the Taiji symbol. When I learned about martial arts from Mandok God, I was taught that the Taiji is like Wuji; it’s chaotic yet represents the beginning of all things, hence the most stable…